Cast members impersonated Walter Palmer, the dentist who killed Cecil the lion, Rachel Dolezal, the woman who said she was black for over 20 years, the donut licked by Ariana Grande, Kim Davis trying to hug a reluctant Pope Francis and of course, pizza rat, during a montage while Cyrus sang a ballad.

Most political candidates play themselves on "SNL," often for just a cameo in a sketch or to declare the show's famous tag line, "Live from New York — it's Saturday night!" Seldom do they go all-out thespian and play a character in a sketch.

But Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton appeared on the season opener as a wise bartender named Val serving, ahem, Hillary Clinton played by Kate McKinnon.

In the sketch, McKinnon sat with Cecily Strong, who was playing Clinton's long-time aide Huma Abedin, the wife of embattled former Rep. Anthony Weiner. McKinnon starts to share all her quarrels with Val.

"It took me a long time to get there but yes, I believe that too," McKinnon said.

The skit poked gentle fun at Clinton's slow opposition to the pipeline, her late-arriving support of gay marriage, and her inability to take a vacation. Notably absent was a crack about her private email server, the source of months of criticism from Republican lawmakers and candidates.